Senate Republicans argued at a hearing last week before Judge Gary L. Sharpe that the primary should be held in August.

“An August primary election simply does not provide sufficient time to deal with totally foreseeable obstacles in certifying a primary election result or the ballot, and that means an August primary by design will potentially disenfranchise military and overseas voters,” the ECA wrote. “A June primary addresses many problems by providing enough time to fully litigate ballot access questions and resolve post-primary canvass litigation such that UOCAVA ballots can be sent reliably 45 days before the general election.”

The Board of Elections has also filed in the case, arguing that changing the primary date would have a complex, cascading effect on the political calendar.